Rotatable elongated air diffuser construction



ROTATABLE ELONGATED AIR'DIFFUSER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2, 1962 April6, 1965 c. N. O'DAY ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS BY 650196? J.J'WEENE) ATTOR/VFY ROTATABLE ELONGATED AIR DIFFUSER CONSTRUCTION FiledFeb. 2, 1962 April 6, 1965 c. N. O'DAY ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSCOATZAND N. O'DAY "ill- GEO/F65 I SWEENEY April 6, 1965 c. N. ODAY ETAL3 'RO'IATABLE ELONGATED AIR DIFFUSER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS CO/FTLAMD M 0'04) 650365 J J'll/EENEY ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,176,603 ROTATABLE ELGNGATED AIR DHFUSERCONS'IRUCTIUN Cortland N. GDay, Port Washington, and George J.

Sweeney, Plandome, N.Y., assignors to Air Devices,

Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 2, 1962, Ser.No. 170,574 19 Claims. (6i. 840) The present invention relates to arotatable elongated air diffuser construction and it particularlyrelates to a dilfuser construction which will have adjustable direction,vertical as well as lateral.

It is among the objects of the present invention to pro vide a simpleextruded air diffuser construction, which may be readily mounted in awall, ceiling, sill or other part of a room, ofiice, loft or enclosureto permit entry of conditioned or ventilating air and at the same timecontrol the distribution or ventilating pattern of the incoming air, asthe case may be.

Another object is to provide an elongated, universal air dilfuserconstruction which will enable ready adjustment in the lateral as wellas vertical distribution of the air pattern which is achieved.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present in vention it hasbeen found most satisfactory to provide a rectangular frame structurewhich may be positioned flat against the periphery of a wall or ceiling,which will form a mounting for a barrel-type member having partiallycircular side bearing members and interior adjustable vane members.

Desirably, the side bearing structures are formed of elongatedextrusions, while the interior vane elements are similarly formed ofextrusion members and are positioned so that they will be held in anyadjusted position.

The ends of the barrel structure are desirably pivotally mounted so thatthe barrel structure may be finally positioned at any desired adjustedposition. The bearing structures desirably have interior flat straightwalls and exterior curved bearing walls.

The exterior frame is also desirably formed of integrally elongatedextruded light metal or aluminum elements which are joined together bycorner angle connection members.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an outside plan view of the barrel dilfuser construction as itmay be inserted in a wall or ceiling.

FIG. 2 is an interior plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 from theinside wall or ceiling.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 3--3 of FIG. 2,showing the barrel in central position.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 3, with the barrelmoved to one-stop position.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, upon the line 55 of FIG. 2,showing the adjustable interior vanes.

FIG. 6 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view upon an enlargedscale, upon the line 66 of FIG. 5, showing the individual vane hingeconnection.

FIG. 7 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view, taken upon the line7-7 of FIG. 5, showing the pivotal connection for the entire barrel.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary separated perspective view, showing the mannerof joining together the corners of the exterior frame consu'uction so asto form a complete rectangular frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown an exterior rectangular frameA and an interior rotatable barrel B.

The frame A may consist of the elongated side extruded member C and theshort end members D.

The barrel structure is formed of the side bearing members E and theadjustable vane members P, which also may be extruded structures of alight metal, such as aluminum alloy.

The vane members are mounted by through rod hinge or pivot structures G,extending between the sidebarrel members E.

The entire barrel on the other hand has pivotal mounts on the endthereof as engaged at H, shown best in FIG. 7, upon the inturnedtransverse side carrying structures I. (See particularly FIG. 5).

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the barrel structures E consistof integral extrusions having the onequarter or one-fifth cylindricalportions 20, which extend down to the corners 21 at one side and up tothe outstanding stop flange elements 22 at the other side.

The inside flat walls 23 vare extruded integrally. with the one-quarteror one-fiith cylindrical walls 20, and they extend upwardly as indicatedat 24 to form the inside channel 25 through which the conditioning orventilating air will pass through the interior conduit system into theroom.

These walls may be provided with the in-turned channel structures 26 and27 for receiving reenforcing means.

The side structures E are closed by the end walls 28 so as to form aclosed end structure, and these end walls 28 may be held in position byrods or bolts extending through the channels 26 and 27.

Between the walls 23 will extend the pivot bolts G, held in position bymeans of the threaded end portions 29 and the nuts 3% These pivot rods Gmay extend through the enlarged channel portions 31 at the edges of thevanes F, as is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, with the body 32 of the vanebeing relatively and flat and terminating in an enlarged end beadsection 33.

As is indicated between the edges 34 of the plates, there will be smallwashers 35 fitting around the rods G.

The nuts 30 will also hold the washers 36 in position. (See FIG. 6).

' The rods 37 for holding the end walls 28 in position are also clearlyshown in FIG. 6.

There will be two rows of these vanes F positioned in each channel 25and they may be positioned as desired in any obliquity, to give thedesired air distribution pattern.

The pivot mount for the entire barrel structure is best shown in FIG. 7and it will be noted that there is a short bolt 55, having a fillisterhead 56 in the end plate 28 of the barrel structure.

This bolt will be held in position by the nut 57 having the washer 58,which clamp the upstanding flange J against the end wall 28 through theintervening stufiing, packing orsealin-g material 59.

The middle wall 60 separating the two channels 25 is clearly shown inFIG. 7 and it will be noted that it is recessed at 61 adjacent the pivotconnection H.

The side frame structure, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, has theoutstanding flanges 75, which carry the hinge plates J and also have thereenforcing elements 76.

The frame structures B and C terminate in the channel elements 77 havingthe inaturned lips 78, which may engage the night angular connectors 7 9having the insert legs 80, as shown best in FIG. 8.

The scaling is accomplished in respect to the frame A by means ofsealing material which may be inserted in the channels 77 beyond theangle connector 79 in respect to the wall or ceiling.

In respect to the curved sides 20 of the barrel structure E, theseal-ing is achieved by putting in gasket or sealing material 81, whichwill be held in position by the outstanding flanges 76 and which willpress at its inside end 82 against the curved side walls 20 of thebarrel structure.

This sealing material 81 will also act to stop the rotating movement ofthe barrel by contact with the flanges 22.

The flange structure A is held in position by means of the bolt holes 83and 84 in the side structures C and D. (See FIGS. 1 and 2).

It is thus apparent that the present invention has provideda simple,readily inserted, durable, extruded barrel type air diffuser, ofwidespread and universal applicability, permitting a wide range ofcontrol over both latten-a1 and vertical distribution of incomingventilating and conditioning As many changes could be made in the aboverotatable elongated air difiuser construction, and-many widely differentembodiments of this invention could be made without departure from thescope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description shall be interpreted as illustrative'and not in alimiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of theinvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what isclaimed is:

1. A horizontal axis parallel ribbon jet barrel-type air diifusercomprising a rectangular frame for mounting against the periphery of arectangular wall opening having elongated horizontal side members andshort connecting end members, and L-shaped junction elements con nectingthe ends of said side and end members at the corners of the frame tohold said frame together, and a rotatable elongated cylindrical barrelpivotaliy mounted therewithin, pivotal mounts at the ends of saidbarrel.

on said end members and having partial cylindrical outside bearingwalls, said heating walls forming the outside of said barrel andcontacting and bearing against the inside edges of saidtside members andflat parallel inside vane carrying walls, said carrying walls consistingof a central wall extending along and being positioned in the horizontalaxis of the rotatable barrel and two outside walls spaced on each sideof said central wall and creating separate parallel channels throughwhich the m'r may be projected in a series of jets in the same oropposite directions on opposite sides of said central wall, said wallsextending the full length of said barrel parallel to the axis of saidbarrel, and a plurality of adjustable rows of vanes the space betweensaid vane nesting end members, and L-shaped junction elements connectingthe ends of said side and end members at the corners of the frame tohold said fcame together, and a rotatable elongated cylindrical barrelpivotally mounted therewithin, pivotal mounts at the ends of said barrelon said end members and having partial cylindrical outside bearingwalls, said bear-ing walls forming the outside of said bar-rel andcontacting and bearing against the inside edges of said side members andflat parallel inside vane carrying walls, said carrying walls consistingof a central wall extending along and being positioned in the horizontalaxis of the rotatable barrel and two outside walls spaced on each sideof said central wall and creating separate parallel channels throughwhich the air may be projected in a series of jets in the same oropposite directions on opposite sides of said central wall, said wallsextending the full length of said barrel parallel to the axis of saidbarrel, and a plurality of adjustable rows of vanes within the spacebetween said vane carrying walls said outside bearing walls and insidevane carrying walls being integrally extruded and said vanes being alsointegrally extruded and said frame having transverse extensionspivotally carrying said rotatable barrel, said vanes having enlargedpivotal end portions and pivot rods extending through said pivot endportions and through said carrying walls permitting each of said vanesto be independently adjusted, whereby said diffuser. projects a seriesof separated laterally elongated oblique jets of air in the same ordifferent directions on each side of the horizontal axis thereof, whichjets are centrally separated from each other in a plane extendingthroughsaid horizontal axis and which may be in the same and in oppositedirections or opposite sides of said plane extending through saidhorizontal axis.

3. A horizontal axis parallel ribbon jet barrel-type air diffusercomprising a rectangular frame for mounting against the periphery of arectangular wall opening having elongated horizontal side members andshort connecting end members, and L-shaped junction elements connectingthe ends of said side and end members at the corners of the frame tohold said frame together, and a rotatable elongated cylindrical barrelpivotally mounted therewithin, pivotal mounts at the ends of said barrelon said end members and having partial cylindrical outside bearingwalls, said bear-ing walls forming the outside of said barrel andcontacting and bearing against the inside edges of said side members andflat parallel inside vane carrying walls said carrying walls consistingcarrying walls, said vanes having enlarged pivotal end portions andpivot rods extending through said pivot end portions and through saidcarrying walls permitting each of said vanes to be independentlyadjusted, whereby said diffuser projects a series of separated laterallyelongated oblique jets of air in the same or different directions oneach side of the horizontal axis thereof, which jets are centrallyseparated from each other in a plane extending through said horizontalaxis and which may be in the same and in opposite directions or oppositesides of said plane extending through said horizontal axis.

2. A horizontal axis parallel ribbon jet barrel-type air diffusercomprising a rectangular frame for mounting against the periphery of arectangular wall opening having elongated horizontal side members andshort conof a central wall extending along and being positioned in thehorizonaal axis of the rotatablebarrel and two outside walls spaced oneach side of said central wall and creating separate parallel channelsthrough which the air may be projected in a series of jets in the sameor opposite directions on opposite sides of said central wall, saidwalls extending the full length of said barrel parallel to the axis ofsaid barrel, and a plurality of adjustable rows of vanes within thespace between said vane carrying walls, said rectangular frameconsisting of short end and long side extruded members having inside andoutside faces and inside and outside edges and having outer channels onthe inside faces at the outside edges of the members, corner connectionsengaging said outer channels to hold together the members to form saidframe, andsaid side members on their inside faces at their inside edgeshaving inside channels and gaskets in said inside channels sealing theinside edges of the side members to the partially cylindrical outsidebearing walls, said vanes having enlarged pivotal and portions and pivotrods extending through said pivot end portions and through said carryingwalls permitting each of said vanes to be independently adjusted,whereby said diffuser projects a series of separated laterally elongatedoblique jets of air in the same or different directions on each side ofthe horizontal axis thereof, which jets are centrally separated fromeach other in a plane extending through said horizontal axis and whichmay be in the same and in opposite directions or opposite sides of saidplane extending through said horizontal axis.

4. A horizontal axis parallel ribbon Fet barrel type rotatable doubleadjustable vane diffuser for insertion in a rectangular openingcomprising a rectangular outside flush frame consisting of extended flatshort end and long side plates, each having oblique end abutment edgesand an outside smooth face and an inside channeled face positionedagainst the periphery of the opening; said inside faces having outerchannels, L-shaped corner connections in said outer channels connectingsaid abutment edges and said inside faces of the long side plates havinginner channels, gaskets in said inner channels and said short end plateshaving inwardly directed right angular flanges adjacent their insideedges on their inside faces servingas pivotal mounting plates, shortadjustable pivot studs on said horizontal axis mounted on said pivotalplates, and a rotatable barrel type diffuser having a top side and abottom side and having outside partial cylindrical walls, insideseparated straight parallel spaced walls and a central transversepartitioning straight wall parallel to and equally spaced between saidseparated parallel walls and end transverse walls at the ends of andmounted on said cylindrical and straight walls, said transverse wallsbeing closely spaced parallel to and slightly inside of said rightangular flanges, a flat gasket between said transverse walls andflanges, pivotal connections between said transverse walls and flangesand a plurality of pairs of adjustable vanes positioned between saidstraight Walls and elongated threaded rods extending through the edgesof said vanes and through the edges of the straight walls serving aspivots for said vanes, whereby said diffuser projects a series ofseparated laterally elongated oblique jets of air in the same ordifferent directions on each side of the horizontal axis thereof, whichjets are centrally separated from each other in a plane extendingthrough said horizontal axis and which may be in the same and inopposite directions or opposite sides of said plane extending throughsaid horizontal axis.

5. The diffuser of claim 4, said vanes having enlarged heads at theirtop edges and bottom edges and transverse openings through said topedges for carrying said rods.

6. The difiuser of claim 4, said connections including right angularmembers having legs inserted in said outer channels to hold saidabutment edges together.

7. The diffuser of claim 4, said pivotal connections and said rods beingthreaded and having end nuts on said threaded portions toenablevariation in the tensioning of the pivotal connections and therods serving as said pivots.

8. The diffuser of claim 4, said gaskets in said inner channelsprojecting inside of the long side plates and pressed against theoutside faces of said cylindrical Walls.

9. The diffuser of claim 4, said cylindrical walls having obliquelyprojecting outstanding flanges to contact said gaskets and act as stops.

10. The diffuser of claim 4, said cylindrical Walls extending betweenone-fourth and one-fifth of the circumference of a cylinder.

11. The diffuser of claim 4, said straight spaced walls being extrudedintegrally with said partial cylindrical walls and said Walls being eachprovided with enlarged edged portions to reinforce the same.

12. An adjustable rotatable double vane horizontal axis parallel ribbonjet barrel type diffuser including rectangular mounting frame havinglong side frame members and short end frame members secured to theperiphery of a ceiling air discharge opening therein, corner connectionsbetween said side and end frame members at the corners of the mountingframe positioned at the periphery and outside of the mounting frame,said frame members being of extruded sections and each having a baseportion disposed parallel to the supporting surface and having on theirinside faces inner and outer channel wall extensions on the inside faceperpendicular to the base portion, said inner extensions on said shortend members projecting into said openings, sealing means carried by theinner extensions of said side and end frame members within the saidouter flanges thereof for sealing engagement with the barrel and nozzleassembly unit of said diffuser; and a central barrel within said frame 7tioned in said horizontal axis securing said nozzle assembly to theframe between the said inner flanges of the frame end members forpivotal movement on a central longitudinal axis in the plane of saidmiddle wall,

pairs of transverse adjustable vanes between said side and middle wallsextending the height of the side and middle walls, an elongatedtransverse adjustable pivot means mounted upon said side andmiddle wallsand extending through the inside ends of said vanes and through theinside edges of said vanes; said sealing means being carried along theinner edges of each side frame member for engagement with thecylindrical segment wall portions of the nozzle assembly; and saidsealing means interposed between the end frame inner extensions and thebarrel end wall; and stop means on the side walls for engagement withthe frame side members for limiting movement of the nozzle assemblyabout the pivotal axis thereof, whereby said difiuser projects a seriesof separated laterally elongated oblique jets of air in the same ordifferent directions on each side of the horizontal axis thereof, whichjets are centrally separated from each other in a plane extendingthrough said horizontal axis and which may be in the same and inopposite directions or opposite sides of said plane extending throughsaid horizontal axis.

13. An adjustable horizontal axis parallel ribbon jet barrel typediffuser having a rectangular frame consisting of pairs of side and endmembers secured to a supporting surface around the periphery of aceiling opening therein; a barrel assembly consisting of pairs ofparallel side and end walls and an intermediate parallel wall, said sidewalls each having an outer cylindrical wall portion and inner parallelwall portions, the side and end wall-s together with the intermediatewall being connected together in spaced parallel relation and formingtwo elongated rectangular air passages, the inner and outer wallportions of each side panel being in spaced apart relationship at theinlet side of said diffuser and joining together at the outlet sidethereof; pivotal studs securing said assembly to said frame for turningmovement on an axis longitudinal of the frame, midway between the sideframe members and the outer cylindrical segment wall portions; flatinwardly projecting sealing means between said side frame and endmembers and said assembly, and pairs of independent adjustable transverse vanes between said side and intermediate walls and sealing stripscarried by the inside face of said frame for engagement with the outercylindrical wall portions, whereby said diffuser projects a series ofseparated laterally elongated oblique jets of air in the same ordifferent directions on each side of the horizontal axis thereof, whichjets are centrally separated from each other in a plane extendingthrough said horizontal axis and which may be in the same and inopposite directions or opposite sides of said plane extending throughsaid horizontal axis.

14. A diffuser according to claim 12 further characterized angularconnector means engageable with said outer extensions for retaining saidside and end frame members in assembled relation.

15. A directionally adjustable air outlet according to claim 12 whereinthe said means for connecting the side and end walls of the nozzleassembly comprise connecting elements engageable in each end of one ofthe side walls at three points defined by extruded apertures formed inthe side walls at the intersection between. the inner and outer wallportions thereof, at the discharge end of the air passage in the nozzleunit and at the end of each of said wall portions which lies at theinlet side of said air passage. 7

16. An elongated adjustable cylindrical horizontal-axis air diffuser ofthe type creating parallellaterally elongated rectangular ribbons of airto flow into an enclosure directed by a plurality of independentlyadjustable vanes covering the distribution of each ribbon of air so thateach ribbon will consist of a plurality of obliquely disposedrectangular cross-section jets which may flow into the enclosure inopposite or similar directions, said diffuser being designed formounting into a laterally elongated rectangular opening in a verticalwall and having an outside fixed rectangular frame with outwardlyextending short end flanges and outwardly extending lat erally elongatedside flanges, said flanges having smooth exposed outside faces away fromthe wall and recessed inside faces against the wall around andcontacting the periphery of said opening, said inside faces having chan'nels forming said recesses extending along the inside and outside edgesthereof and said flanges being obliquely cut oil adjacent the corners ofthe frame and the end and side flanges abutting each other at thecorners of the frame along diagonals of the frame, rectangular pivotalmounting flanges extending inwardly into the opening from the insideedges of the short end flanges and a rotatable cylindrical unit mountedto rotate on a horizontal axis between said pivotal flanges and betweenthe inside edges of the side flanges, thick rectangular crosssectiongaskets in the inside channels of the side flanges kept inside of saidoutside smooth faces, said unit having flat transverse end walls andparallel longitudinal walls, one extending through and along thehorizontal axis and the others spaced on each. side of the axis and alsohaving parallel cylindricalwalls contacting said gasket, a flat gasketpositioned between said flat end walls and said pivotal flange andindependently adjustable rectangular swinging vanes extending betweenbut slightly spaced from each of said parallel longitudinal wallsleaving narrow spaces between the edges of the vanes and thelongitudinal walls so that the vanes will direct the flow of air betweenthe narrow spacings at the sides thereof, means in the outside channelsto hold the corners of the frame together, and adjustable pivotalmountings for the unit on the pivotal flanges and for the vanes on thelongitudinal walls adjustable to control the friction of pivotalmovement of said unit and said vanes.

17. The diffuser of claim 16, spacers being provided between the sideedges of the vanes and said longitudinal walls and said pivotalconnections including rods extending through the spacers, the insideends of said vanes, and through all of said longitudinalwalls.

18. The diffuser of claim 16, said vanes being adjustable so that thesaid vanes in one ribbon may be turned obliquely in one direction and sothat the vanes in the adjacent ribbon may be turned obliquely in theopposite direction.

19. The difluser of claim 16, said means in the outside channelconsisting of L-shaped members fitting in said channels adjacent andlimited to said corners, said L-shaped members having legs of the samelength on each side of each corner and indentations on the inside facesof said outside channels to hold said legs in position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,301,985 11/42Vagliani 9840 2,696,087 12/54 Luecke 98-40 2,755,729 7/56 Galbraith98-40 2,861,659 11/58 Hagerty 98114 2,987,985 6/61 Johnson 98-4213,012,494 12/ 61 Drummond 984O ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

1. A HORIZONTAL AXIS PARALLEL RIBBON JET BARREL-TYPE AIR DIFFUSERCOMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME FOR MOUNTING AGAINST THE PERIPHERY OF ARECTANGULAR WALL OPENING HAVING ELONGATED HORIZONTAL SIDE MEMBERS ANDSHORT CONNECTING END MEMBERS, AND L-SHAPED JUNCTION ELEMENTS CONNECTINGTHE ENDS OF SAID SIDE AND END MEMBERS AT THE CORNERS OF THE FRAME TOHOLD SAID FRAME TOGETHER, AND A ROTATABLE ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL BARRELPIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREWITHIN, PIVOTAL MOUNTS AT THE ENDS OF SAID BARRELON SAID END MEMBERS AND HAVING PARTIAL CYLINDRICAL OUTSIDE BEARINGWALLS, SAID BEARING WALLS FORMING THE OUTSIDE OF SAID BARREL ANDCONTACTING AND BEARING AGAINST THE INSIDE EDGES OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS ANDFLAT PARALLEL INSIDE VANE CARRYING WALLS, SAID CARRYING WALLS CONSISTINGOF A CENTRAL WALL EXTENDING ALONG AND BEING POSITIONED IN THE HORIZONTALAXIS OF THE ROTATABLE BARREL AND TWO OUTSIDE WALLS SPACED ON EACH SIDEOF SAID CENTRAL WALL AND CREATING SEPARATE PARALLEL CHANNELS THROUGHWHICH THE AIR MAY BE PROJECTED IN A SERIES OF JETS IN THE SAME OROPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL WALL, SAID WALLSEXTENDING THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID BARREL PAR-